Famous Alaskans

Okay, here is a list compiled from various sources. I am prejudiced towards people I have heard of, so take it with a grain of salt!

1. Jewel, singer and songwriter

Shortly after she was born in May of 1974, Jewel's parents moved to Homer, Alaska, settling on an 800-acre homestead. After graduating from a performing arts college, she moved to San Diego and began a successful career in pop music.

2. Jack London, novelist

Writer and adventurer, Jack London spent the winter of 1897 in the Yukon and from that experience wrote the books, "Call of the Wild" and "White Fang."

3. Walter Hickel, former governor
Born in Kansas in 1919, he was the first Alaskan to serve in the US cabinet. He left the governorship in 1969 to become secretary of the interior.

4. Sydney Laurence, painter
Sydney Mortimer Laurence (1865-1940) was the foremost painter of the Alaskan landscape and his work is well known to Alaskans. As one of Alaska's most widely beloved historical painters, he was the first professionally trained artist to make Alaska his home.

5. Libby Riddles, first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race (1985)

6. Susan Butcher, four-time winner of the Iditarod

The only woman to win the Iditarod Sled Dog Race three consecutive years---placing first in 1986, 1987, and 1988 (and also winning in 1990). In 1988, a T-shirt appeared in Alaska which read, "Alaska: Where Men are Men and Women Win the Iditarod!" (NOTE: I bought one of those shirts in 1990!)

7. Tommy Moe, Olympic skier

Alpine skier Tommy Moe won the gold medal in downhill skiing and the silver medal in the super-G event at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. He was the first U.S. man to win two Alpine Olympic medals in one year.

8. Hilary Lindh, Olympic skier

Born in Juneau, Hilary Lindh is a five-time U.S. National Champion and the 1992 Olympic silver medalist in downhill skiing.

9. Curt Schilling, baseball player

Born in Anchorage; the star pitcher played on four World Series teams and was World Series MVP in 2001.

10. Scott Gomez, hockey player
Scott Gomez of Anchorage was the National Hockey League's rookie of the year in 2000. His team, the New Jersey Devils, won the Stanley Cup. He currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens.

11. Carlos Boozer, basketball player

Grew up in Juneau. Member of 2008 Gold Medal Olympic basketball team and 2-time NBA all-star.

12. Tom Bodett, author and spokesperson

The voice of Motel 6's "We'll leave the light on for you" commercials, Bodett lived for a time in Homer.